Project Safe Place
How do we keep kids safe?
Thousands of businesses and community buildings display the yellow-and-black Safe Place sign, offering a place where youth can get immediate help and safety. A Safe Place volunteer or staff member arranges transportation to a nearby shelter or drop-in center and arranges counseling, shelter services or other help as needed. Safe Place provides a place youth can turn to for help rather than running away from home by offering:
- 24-hour help line (208.676.0772 in Coeur d’Alene, 888.673.SAFE in Spokane)
- crisis intervention
- access to safe and caring adults
- drop-in center with after-school activities and mentoring every weekday afternoon (Coeur d’Alene)
- emergency shelter (Spokane)
- host-home program (Coeur d’Alene)
- independent living services for foster youth (Coeur d'Alene)
- nutritious meals and snacks (provided by local families, churches, service clubs and businesses)
- clothing bank
- outreach programs
Safe Place is a multi-service prevention and outreach program that provides immediate help and supportive resources for youth in crisis, including kids and teens who are:
- at risk of separating from their families or becoming homeless
- lacking safe transportation or supervision after school
- being abused at home
- struggling in school
- being bullied at school
Founded in 1999, Project Safe Place in Coeur d’Alene became a program of Volunteers of America in 2004. Safe Place began expansion into Spokane in April of 2007. There are now nearly 150 participating locations in the Inland Northwest.
The local programs connect with the national Safe Place program that started in 1984 in Louisville, Ky., which now has programs in 700 communities.
Safe Place offers the community:
- An opportunity to increase community involvement
- A way to help youth in vulnerable situations
- An avenue to promote positive community relationships
- Connection to a national program with a recognized sign indicating immediate help and safety
- Increased volunteer opportunities
Kids need your help now!
You can support the development of Safe Place in Spokane and Kootenai counties by designating your business or community organization as a Safe Place site where kids can get help fast. In Kootenai county, we also need licensed host-home families. To find out how you can get involved contact us:
Safe Place—Spokane
525 W Second Ave • Spokane, WA 99201
24-hr helpline: 1.888.676.SAFE
office: 509.838.6596 (Crosswalk) • fax: 509.624.2275
email: chirt@voaspokane.org
Project Safe Place—Coeur d’Alene
201 E Harrison Ave • Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814
24-hr helpline: 206.676.0772 • fax: 208.664.9358
email: bsmitherman@voaspokane.org